Automatic oil return system for turbine pumps



Nov. l, 1938.

J. M. HAI-r AUTOMATICIOIL RETURN SYSTEM FOR TURBINE PUMPS Filed Maron 27, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 NOV. 1,1938. J, M, HMT 2,134,818

AUTOMATIC OIL RETURN SYSTEM FOR TURBINE PUMPS Filed March 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 55 Y ..62 6,6 55 z 25 jf@ 67 J4 ZZ s E y z5 24 will, "Ilm 4 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STAT TURBINE PUMPS f AUTOMATIC on. RETURN sYs'TEMFoR l James M. Bait, Los Angeles, `Galiff, assg'nor to Q Food Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 27,

11 Claims.

to lubricate the line shaft bearings of the pump so that the lubricant does not enter either the well water'or the water being pumped to the surface ofl the ground. The invention herein l described is an improvement over the general type of apparatus set forth in my Patents No. 2,041,999

on Oil returr` `ystem for deep well turbine pumps and No1 2,068,175 on Means for lubricating a deepwell pump, and vover the apparatus 'set forth in my co-pending application for Letters Patent on Lubricating system f'or vertical pump shaft, Serial No. 13,820. f'

This invention is adapted to be embodied in a deep well turbine pump of the type utilizing the so-called drip method of delivering lubricant to the line shaft enclosing tubing. The primary object of the invention is to provide means for automatically accumulating the lubricant which has traversed the line shaft enclosing tubing and the line shaft bearings in the region of the impellers of the pump out of contact with the water in the well and in the pump. It is also an object to provide means for automatically separating the Water content of the lubricant which becomes 30 emulsified in its passage through the bearings,

and means for automatically returning the lighter components of the emulsion, or in other Words, a clean lubricant, tothe surface for re-use. In accomplishing this object it is a further object of this invention to utilize the pressure of the uid being pumped to raise the separated lubricant to the surface.

In connection with the accumulation and separation of the emulsifed lubricant which has 40 traversed the line shaft enclosing tubing and line shaft bearings, it is an object of this invention to provide fully automatic means for accomplishing this which only requires an occasional stopping of the pump for a short period of time for 45 the successful operation of the apparatus. In-

variably, industrial and municipal installations of turbine pumps of the type, in which the invention is adapted to be embodied, operate Awith a daily or Weekly interruption. Some installations operconnection with pumps operating under' such conditions.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide means for accomplishing the objects outate longer Without interruptions and the inven` tion is designed to be adaptable to operate in.

1937, serial No.' isa'sva (c1. 10s- 102) lined above which consists of a minimum of parts,- none of which continuously operate, and which may be readily added to a standardturbine purnpor readily built into a standard pump at the time of manufacture.

These objects are attained by the apparatus set forth in the accompanying draw-ings, which it is to be understood are for illustrative purposes only, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing a turbine pump assembly equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention` Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevationgof the accumulator and separator chambers shown;-

in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on line 4--4fof Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a system for ldirectly returning the lubricant to the top of the line shaft enclosing tubing.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve employed in the accumulator and separator chambers. n

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of another valve adaptable for use with the accumulator and separator chambers.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a modified form of the invention wherein the accumulator and separator chambers surround the lower end of the line shaft enclosing tubing inside of the fluid delivery pipe.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of theI annular partition separating the upper and lower chambers showing a modifled'form of the invention which does not require a valve.

Referring to the drawingsreference numeral ll generally indicates a pump head assembly of conventional type which includes a motor housed Y in the upper portion l2 of the assembly and a discharge conduit I3. The motor in the pump head assemblyv is 'in driving engagement with a line shaft I4 which extends into the well l5 and on which are mounted the conventional imp ellers,V one impeller unit being shown housed in the bowl assembly I6. Surrounding the line shaft is aline shaft enclosing tubing l1 in which are mounted in spaced relationship the ordinary line shaft bearings, two of WhichI are indicated by refer' ence numerals lland i9; Surrounding the shaft enclosing tubing H and spaced therefrom is a fluiddelivery pipe connected at its upper end to the pump head assembly ll and in open communication with the discharge conduit i3. llt

is connected at its lower end to the bowl assembly I5 in the well. The line shaft I4 extends through a fitting generally indicated by reference numeral 2I at the top of the shaft enclosing tubing I1. The iltting 2l provides a chamber 22 into which the lubricant is fed drop by drop at a suflicient rate to effectively lubricate the line shaft bearings. This lubricant is stored in a chamber 23 from which it is conducted to the chamber 22 by means of a pipe 24 which includes a dripper valve 25 for the regulationl of the flow of lubricant through the pipe.

For accomplishing the objects of accumulating and separating the component parts of the water emulsifled lubricant which has traversed the line shaft and line shaft bearings, a casing 23 is provided which extends above and preferably below the bowl assembly I6. This casing comprises an upper section 29 which is secured in spaced relationship to the delivery pipe 20 by means of annular plate 30 to which it is welded or otherwise secured. At its lower end the upper section 29 is threaded on an annular plate 3| welded to the delivery pipe 23. The plate 3I forms the lower closure of an upper chamber 32 formed by the casing section 23, delivery pipe 20, plate 3U and plate 3I. Threaded onto the plate 3| is a lower section 34 which forms what may be termed an open-ended lower chamber 35 surrounding ythe delivery pipe 20 and bowl assembly I6 and the intake portions 35 of the pump. rI'his lower chamber 35 is in open communication with the well at its lower end which is designated by reference numeral 34.

For the purpose of providing the conventional communication from the interior of the shaft enclosing tubing I1 to the chamber 35, a by-pass 31 is provided just below the line shaft bearing I3. This by-pass is formed in a rib 33. Below the bearing I9 an annular chamber 39 is provided with which the inlet of the by-pass 31 communicates. Below this chamber is a bearing 43. Interposed between the bearing 40 and the impeller 4I is provided sealing means, generally indicated by reference numeral 42, to restrict passage of iluid through bearing 40'.

It isgevident that with this `construction the pressure in the chamber 35, since it is in open communication with the well, is substantially the same as the static head of the water in the well. By reason of this it can be seen that the lubricant which has traversed the line shaft enclosing tubing and passed down through bearings I3 and I3 may escape from the shaft enclosing tubing into the chamber 35 by means of the bypass 31 after sumcient amount has accumulated in the shaft enclosing tubing to counterbalance the static head of water in the well. In this connection there is no tendency for the fluid to continue downwardly through bearing 40 inasmuch as the pressure at the lower end of the sealing means 42 is greater (during operation of the pump) than is the pressure at the upper end of bearing 40. Thus if there is any flow of fluid through bearing 40 it `is an upward flow which prevents any lubricant from working down through this bearing and into the pumped fluid stream.

'I'he lubricant which has passed down through the shaft enclosing tubing and out through the by-pass 31 is discharged into the lower chamber 35, the lighter components of the emulsiiied lubricant rising to the upper portion of the chamber below the plate 3i during the operation of the pump. It is thus apparent that the emul- .v signed to remain open only when the pressure in chamber 35 is equal to or greater than the pressure in chamber 32. During the operation of the pump the pressure in chamber 32 is kept at a point substantially equal to the pressure of the pumped uid inside the delivery conduit 23 by the provision of an opening or port 20' in the delivery pipe. Thus during the operation of the pump the pressure in chamber 32 is considerably higher than the pressure in chamber 35 (Whichis at substantially well pressure) and thus keeps the valve 45 in closed position preventing the passage of any fluid from chamber 35 to chamber 32.

The upper end of the chamber 32 is provided with a pipe 46 for delivering lubricant accumulated in the chamber 32 to the surface of the ground. This pipe has been shown as discharging into a container 41. A valve 46 is positioned at a suitable point in the pipe 45 for controlling passage of fluid therethrough. The container 41 is connected to the lubricant chamber 23 in the pump head assembly II by means oi'. a pipe 48 suitably valved at 48. The container 41 which is adapted to act as a separating chamber is provided with an outlet pipe 49 at the bottom, which has a valve 49'. This pipe is for the purpose of draining water from the container.

In the operation of the device the lubricant is fed into the top of the line shaft enclosing tubing I1 and flows downwardly through bearings vI3 and I9 and into the space 39, it becoming emulsied in its passage. From this point the lubricant, after a sufllcient amount of it has accumulated to counterbalance the static head of the water in the Well, passes through the bypass 31 and into chamber 35 which is filled with water due to the fact that it is in open communication with the Well at its lower end. The entire casing 28, in this connection, is situated vbelow the level of the water in the well. When the lubricant reaches the outlet of by-pass 31 it flows upwardly in chamber 35 and the lighter components accumulate in the upper portion of the chamber immediately below the plate 3|. While the well is being pumped the pressure in chamber 32 keeps the valve 45 closed and thus prevents escape of the lubricant from the chamber 35. While the lubricant remains in chamber 35 it has an opportunity to separate into its component parts of oil and water, the oil gathering at the top and displacing the water from that portion of the chamber.

When the pump is stopped the pressure in chamber 32 becomes the same as that in chamber 35, due to the fact that the pressure of the fluid inside of the delivery pipe diminishes to the well pressure. This equalization of the pressure on both sides of the plate 3l permits the valve 45 to open and thereby permits the accumulated partially separated lubricant in the top portion of the chamber 35 to rise through the valve 45 and rise in chamber 32 to the top thereof, displacing the water which in turn flows through ports 20. When the pump is again put`75 in voperatlorf pressur'in .th-chamber" is' pipe 46 up t'othe surface 'of the'ground and into the "container, 41', provided valve 146 has been opened 'and providinglthe'pressure -at dischargev I3 is sufficient to raise theloilin pipe 46 tothe l elevation Ifrecessary'` to enterthe t'op of container 41. `If the `vvateris discharged at the surface f a valve or restrictionmay beV required in discharge I3, although in most casesthe column friction loss will supply the liquid differential. The valve 46,'A may be opened wide and left that way until the pipe begins 'to deliver water at its outlet or it may only be cracked and thus allow only as much lubricant to be delivered to the surface as is being fed into the shaft enclosing tubing at the top thereof.

In this connection chambers 32 and 35 are constructed of suflicient size to accommodate the amount of lubricant which might accumulate in them during the ordinary period of operation of the pump between shut downs. Ihe section 34 of the casing is shown extending considerably` below the outlet of the by-pass 31 so as to prevent anypossibility of the lubricant escaping into the well.

In Fig. is shown another manner in which the lubricant may be returned to the top of the shaft enclosing tubing. pipe 46 in this constructionleads directly to the dripper valve 25 and is controlled by a valve 52. Between the valve 52 and the chamber 32 is a drain pipe 53 provided with a valve 54, by means of which samples of the fiuid being raised' through pipe 46 may be drawn off. The lubricant storage chamber 23/in the pump head assembly is connected to the dripper valve by pipe 55 which is controlled by valve 56. The' dripper valve 25 is connected to the chamber 22 at the top of the' shaft enclosing tubing by the pipe 24.

The construction shown in. Fig. v5 permits a closed automatic lubricating system after the lns system has become saturated with lubricant. Whenthe pump is first installed and before such time as suiicient lubricant has passed down through the shaft enclosing tube and out into the separating chambers and is in condition to be raised to the surface, the lubricant may be suppliedto the top of the shaft enclosing tubing by means of the pipe 55 communicating with the reservoir 23. During this initial operation of the `pump the valve 56 would be open and valve 52 raised to the surface through pipe t6 to be de.

livered directly back to the top of the shaft enclosing tubing. It may be necessary to first open valve 5'4 and permit escape of any water which maybe in pipe 46 before opening valve 52 to permit the. lubricant to flow to'the dripper valve."

In Fig. 6 is shown the construction of valve 45 which is mounted in the opening 3l in the plate 3l. A nipple 58 is threaded into the opening 3l end carries a short tube 59 which is threaded into the upper end of the nipple.

Threaded on the upperend of the tube 59 is a valve comprising a `valve body 60 which has a aieasief The lubricant return I passage 6which"` in open communication at) its lower en d with A chamber"35 through `the tube' l 59 and nipple58 and `terminates at its upper 'end in,` a valve seat 62. A valve spring 63 is mounted by means of screws 64fon`the'valvebody 60 and," is adapted to remain in the position shown in' Fig'.` 6, when the pressure of vtheffiuid in the valve passage is greater` than or equal to the' pressure Mounted in theregion of` the `closure member. on the outer end of the valve spring, 63 is valve closure member.65 `whichis preferably formed 4of anvoil and water'resisftant` material. This valve closure member`65 engages the valve seat A|52 when the pressure in chamber 32 exceeds the pressure in the bore 6| which is in communication with the chamber 35.

It should be apparent that this invention is In Fig. 7 is illustrated another valve which is adaptable for use in the annular plate separating the upper and lower chambers. This valve gen-l erally indicated by reference numeral 68 comprises a valve body 69 having a central passageway 10 which terminates at its lower end in a threaded portion 1| adapted to beV threaded on to a tube such as the tube 59 shown in connection with valve 45. The passageway 10 terminates at its upper end in a T outlet 12. rMounted on the upper end of valve body 69 is a valve cap 13 which is held in place on the valve body 69 by means of bolts 14. valve body 69 and the inside of the top of the valve cap 13 is a coil spring 15 which is surrounded by a water proof flexible encasement means 16. The lower end of the valve cap 13 ha's beveled edge 13' adapted to rest on the valve seat 11 formed on the valve body 69. This valve seat 11 may be formed of Duprenev or other suitable oilV and water resistant material positioned in the annular groove 18.

In connection with the description of the chambers 32 and 35 it was pointed out that in theordinary operation of deep well turbine pumps the level of the water standing in the well would at all times be above the top of casing 28. However, to provide for the possibility of thetwater level receding to a. point below the top of the casing 2B a stand pipe may be provided externally of the casing 28 which should be open at the top and thus provide a head of water on the lower open end of chamber 35 equivalent to the height of the stand pipe which preferably should be the height of the casing 28 orslightly higher. Although this stand pipe might be embodied in the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2, for purposes of illustration it has only been shown in connection with a modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8. be more fully described with thatform of invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein the accumulator and separator chambers are located immediately surrounding` the lower end of the line shaft enclosing tubing and are within the delivery pipe. Referring parn tic-ula'rly to Fig. 8 vwhich is a fragmentary sectional elevation, reference numeralil) indicates a bowl assembly. Mounted on the topV of the bowl assembly is a case dl on .which is mounted a bearing 82 (equivalentto bearing 4m Fig. 2). Above the bearing the bore Ellis enlarged at .63'

Between the top of` Accordingly it will the and has threaded in its upper end another bearing 84 (equivalent to I9, Fig. 2). 'I'he delivery pipe, here indicated as 85 is threaded into the upper end of the case 8|. A line shaft 88 extends downwardly through the apparatus and operates the impeller in the bowl assembly 60. Surrounding the line shaft 86 is the conventional shaft enclosing tubing 81 in which are mounted the spaced line shaft bearings, one of which is.

indicated at 88. Surrounding the shaft enclosing tubing at its lower end is a casing 89 which is formed of an upper section 90 and a lower section 9|. An annular plate 92 divides the casing 88 into an upper chamber 93 and lower chamber 84. This plate 92 is apertured at 92 to accommodate a valve 95, similar to the valve shown and described in connection with the preferred form of the invention. Mounted in the upper end of the chamber 93 is a pipe 91, similar to pipe 46 of the preferred form and adapted to be connected at the surface as shown in Fig. l. At the lower end of the shaft enclosing tubing 81 are apertures 81' which permit escape of accumulated lubricant into the chamber 94. The lubricant which has worked down through the shaft enclosing tubing and bearings therein may thus escape into chambers 94 through these openings and accumulate in the upper portion of the chamber just below the plate 92, dividing the upper and lower chambers.

During the operation of the pump the pressure in chamber 93 is maintained at substantially the pressure of the pumped fluid by means of an opening 90 in the upper section 90 of the casing 89. As in the preferred form of the invention, this pressure during operation of the pump serves to keep the valve 95 in a closed position, thus preventing any fluid from passing from chamber 84 to the chamber 93. When the operation of the pump stops the pressure in chamber 93 drops to that of well pressure permitting valve 86 to open. This allows the entrapped accumulated lubricant in the upper portion of chamber 84 to pass through the valve into the chamber 83 where it accumulates in the upper portion thereof.

It should be pointed out that at all times the pressure in chamber 94 is substantially that of the well pressure. This is accomplished by the provision of a by-pass 98 which communicates with the interior of the shaft enclosing tubing and which is in open communication with the well by virtue of the clearance existing between the shaft and the bearing 84.

To take care of the possibility that the Water in the well might drop below the casing 89 and thus permit the lubricant from the shaft enclosing tubing to seep into thewell water, a stand pipe 99 is mounted on the lower portion of the case 8| and extends upwardly a desirable distance above the casing 89. This stand-pipe is adapted to be open to the well at the top and will thus be filled when the water of the well is above it. or by the high pressure leakage water escaping through bearing 82. When the water of the well recedes below the top of the standpipe, the stand-pipe retains a column of water sufficient to counterbalance the fluid in chambers 93 and 94, and thereby prevent the escape of any of the lubricant into the "water of the well, since it is separated before it can leak through port 98.

In Fig, 9 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention which does not require a valve. 'I'he view shows a fragmentary section of the plate separating the upper and lower accumulator and separator chambers. Reference numeral indicates the casing means enclosing the chambers |02 and |03 and surrounding the delivery pipe |04. 'Ihe chambers in this form of the invention occupy the same relative positions as are shown in Fig. 2. The annular plate separating the chambers designated by reference numeral |06 is provided with a very narrow passageway |06. The delivery pipe |04 is shown apertured at |04' but might preferably be apertured on the side opposite from the passageway |06. With this construction the lubricant escapes into chamber |03 as described in connection with the device shown in Fig. 2 and is prevented during operation of the pump from rising into chamber |02 by the pressure of the water in chamber |02 which is in open communication with the fluid delivery conduit. Thus, during operation of the pump a slight stream of water escapes through the passageway |06 into chamber |03, preventing passage of the lubricant upwardly therethrough. The lubricant accumulates in the chamber |03 below the plate |05 until the pump is stopped, when it may ascend into the upper chamber through the passage |06. When the pump is started the lubricant accumulated in the upper portion of the upper chamber may then be delivered to the surface of the ground in the manner above described in connection with the other forms of the invention. With this construction it is possible to eliminate the valve employed between the two chambers in the other forms of the device.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: casing means forming a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber open to the Well at a point below the well liquid level when the pump is operating, said lower chamber communicating with the interior of said shaft-enclosing tubing; said delivery pipe having a port in the region of the lower portion of said upper chamber to communicate said upper chamber with the delivery pipe, said port being below the liquid level in the upper chamber when the pump is not operating; conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with the surface of the ground; and a normally open valve between said chambers adapted to be closed by the pressure in the upper chamber when the y pump is operating.

2. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: casing means surrounding said tubing in the region of the lower end of said tubing; partition means mounted between said tubing and said casing and cooperating with those elements to form closed upper and lower chambers; said tubing being apertured to provide communicating means between said lower chamber and the interior of said tubing; said casing means having a port in the region of the lower portion of said upper chamber to communicate said upper chamber with the delivery pipe, said port being below the liquid level in the upper` chamber when the pump is not operating; by-pass means connecting the interior' of said mounted on lsaid partition means adapted tobe closed by the 'liquid pressure in the upper chamber when the pump is operating; `andjconduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with thesurface of the ground. f

ingsaid'tubing in theregion of the lower lendof said tubingrbpartition means. mounted between said tubing and said casing and cooperating with those elements to form closed upper and lower chambers; said tubing being apertured to provide communicating Vmeans between said lower chamber and the interior of said tubing; said casing means having a port in the region of the lower portion of said upper chamber to communicate saidlupper chamberwith the delivery pipe; by-pass means providing communication from the interior ,of said tubing to the exterior of said delivery pipe; a normally open valve mounted in said partition means adapted to be closed by the pressure in the upper chamber when the pump is operating; conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with the surface of the ground; a stand-pipesurroundingsaid delivery pipe from a point below said by-pass means to a point above the top of said upper chamber, said stand-pipe being open to the well at its top and closed at the bottom.

4. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive a lubricant at im upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, a lubricantaccumulator and separator means comprising: a housing below the top of said shaft-enclosing tubing forming a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber open to the well at a point below the well liquid' level when the pump is operating, the lowerv portion of said upper chamber being in open communication with the interior of said delivery pipe at a point below the liquid level in the upper chamber' when the pump is not operating; by-pass means connecting said lower chamber and the interior of said tubing; means for preventing lubricant in said lower chamber from entering said upper chamber when the pump is operating and for permitting such `lubricant passage when the pump is not operating; and conduit means connecting the upper portion of 'the upper chamber with the surface of the ground. y,

5. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line sha-it, a

shait-enclosing tubing adapted to receiveA a lubricant .atits upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosingV tubing, a. lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: a housing below the top oi" the shaft-enclosing tubing forming a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber open to thewell at a point below the well liquid level said upper chamber with the interior oi said delivery-pipe, said port being below the liquid level r .t w: l ,'faigasig ,i ming "with" ihewen; a sortais. open `dive` I y y.. d inthe upper'ch'amber when the pump is not yoperating; and -`conduitmeans connecting the upper portion of 4the upper chamber with the 'surfac'e of theground.y x i 1 f 6. Foruse in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, `a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive alubrcantat its upper end,A and a delivery pipeenclosingv said tubing, an oil circulating system comprising: a housing below the' topof the 'shaftenclosing tubing forming a closed upper' chamber l,

and a lower chamber open toi'thevwell at a point below the well liquid level when the pump is operating; by-pass means connecting said lower chamber and the interior of said tubing; a normally open valve .between said chambers closable by the pressure of th-e liquid in the upper chamber when the pump `is operating; said upper chamber being in open communication with the interior of said delivery pipe near the lower end of said upper chamber and at a point below the vliquid level in the upper chamber when the pump is not operating; and conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with the top of said shan-enclosing tubing.

7. For use with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft,l a shaft-enclosing tubing' adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, the combination of a `lubricant accumulator and separator having a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber open to the well at a point bellow the well liquid level when the pump isl operating, said lower chamber being in open communication with the interior of said tubing, said upper chamber being in communication with the interior of said delivery pipe in the region of the lower end of the said upper chamber and at a point below the liquid level in the upper chamber when the pump is not operating; conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with the surface of the ground; and means operable by the Variation in pressure of the liquid in said delivery pipe for controlling the passage of lubricant from said lower chamber to said upper chamber.

il. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: casing means surrounding said tubing inthe region of the lower end of said tubing forming closed upper and lower chambers, the portion of said casing iol-ming a partition between said upper and lower chainbers being provided with an opening to communicate said upper and lower chambers; said tubing being apertured to provide communicating means between said lower chamber and the interior oi" said tubing; said casing means having a port in the region oi the lower portion of said upper chamber to communicate said upper clvlamber [iii with the delivery pipe, said port being below the i liquid level in the upper' chamber when the pump is not operating; and conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with 'the surface of the ground.

9. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shait, a shaft-enclosing tubing adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a deliverypipe enclosing said f tubing", a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising; casing means below the top ci said shaft-enclosing tubing forming 'lli a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber being in open communication with the interior of said delivery pipe in the region of the lower end of said upper chamber and at a point below the liquid level in the upper chamber when the pump is not operating; said lower chamber communicating with the interior of said tubing; means for preventing lubricant in said lower chamber from entering said upper chamber when the pump is operating and for Ipermitting such lubricant passage when the pump it not operating; and conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper chamber with the surface of the ground.

10. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having lubricant supply means, lubricant escape means, and a delivery pipe, a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: casing means forming a closed upper chamber and a lower chamber open to the well at a point below the well liquid level when the pump is operating, said lower chamber communicating with the lubricant escape means; communicating means between the lower portion of the upper chamber and theinterior of the delivery Pipe, said means being at a point below the well liquid level when the pump is not operating; conduit means connecting the upper portion of the upper vchamber with the surf ace of the ground; and means for preventing lubricant in said lower chamber from entering said upper chamber when the pump is operating and for permitting such lubricant passage when the pump is not operating.

1l. For use in combination with a well turbine pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a tubing enclosing said shaft adapted to receive a lubricant at its upper end, and a. delivery pipe enclosing said tubing, a lubricant accumulator and separator means comprising: by-pass means interposed between the interior of said tubing and the exterior of said pipe; an elongated casing surrounding said delivery pipe in theregion of the outlet of said by-pass, said casing being closed at the top and open at the bottom, the bottom of said casing being below the well liquid level when the pump is operating; a partition member located above said by-pass means connecting said casing and said delivery pipe and cooperating with those members to form an upper and a lower separating chamber; said upper chamber being in open communication with the interior of said delivery pipe by means of an aperture in said delivery pipe opening into the lower portion of said upper chamber, said aperture being below,` the liquid level in the upper chamber when the pump is not operating; communicating means' between the upper portionkof said lower chamber and said upper chamber; a valve controlling said communicating means and adapted to be closed when the pressure in said upper chamber exceeds the pressure in said lower chamber; and a lubricant return conduit connecting the top of said casing with the surface of the ground.

JAMES M. HAIT. 

